Do you wish to operate manually or would you like one train to automatically stop each and every time it reaches a platform, thereby starting the other train in the opposite direction?
Single line joining two loops
- Thread starter Newby
- Start date
WOW, I was entirely off in my assumption of the track plan. I pictured the typical dog bone, where a single track connects two loops, one at each end of the single track.
Yes.Newby said:
One way is the following slight modifications on Steve's diagram. It needs an additional auxiliary switch on the other point motor.
The point motors are both wired to be operated simultaneously by track contacts as before. Switch 1 reverses the power to the common, bi-directional track section. Switch 2 is wired so that one half is closed when the other is open and feeds the relatively short isolating sections in each loop. These are sited a short distance ahead of the triggers as it's important that a train doesn't stop with the operating magnet within range of the trigger.
Start with a train in each loop, one a fair bit farther from a trigger than the other. Apply power and both trains will move in opposite directions. When a train passes over a trigger it isolates the relatively short section of track ahead, sets the points in front of that for the other loop and changes the track polarity to suit. When the second train reaches a trigger it does the same so the first train restarts, passes on to the common section, goes round the layout and eventually triggers the second train.
Neil Robinson said:Yes.Newby said:
One way is the following slight modifications on Steve's diagram. It needs an additional auxiliary switch on the other point motor.
The point motors are both wired to be operated simultaneously by track contacts as before. Switch 1 reverses the power to the common, bi-directional track section. Switch 2 is wired so that one half is closed when the other is open and feeds the relatively short isolating sections in each loop. These are sited a short distance ahead of the triggers as it's important that a train doesn't stop with the operating magnet within range of the trigger.
Start with a train in each loop, one a fair bit farther from a trigger than the other. Apply power and both trains will move in opposite directions. When a train passes over a trigger it isolates the relatively short section of track ahead, sets the points in front of that for the other loop and changes the track polarity to suit. When the second train reaches a trigger it does the same so the first train restarts, passes on to the common section, goes round the layout and eventually triggers the second train.
As always Neil's drawing is slightly better than mine but its an improvement from a fag packet
@Newby....
Can you describe how you want the trains to operate?
Do you want both trains to be running at the same time or sequentially (as in Niel's example)?
Do you want independent control of both trains (i.e. different speeds)?
The complexity of the wiring will be driven by your answers.
Can you describe how you want the trains to operate?
Do you want both trains to be running at the same time or sequentially (as in Niel's example)?
Do you want independent control of both trains (i.e. different speeds)?
The complexity of the wiring will be driven by your answers.
Hi Mums, I would like to have independent control of each train as they will be running at different speeds. Each loop will have its own controller and the switches will allow power from the appropriate loop to be used in the single section as the individual trains use it.
Steve's diagram shows the single section powered from a switch ,will this allow me to run as above.
Steve's diagram shows the single section powered from a switch ,will this allow me to run as above.
That should work as you want, if you want you could double up on the track contacts so you can run either way on either line as long as you want to stay on the same route I.e. outside to outside and inside to inside if you want to change over from inside to outside then a bit more thought will be required.
I think I will keep it simple for the moment.(tongue in cheek) . The wiring diagram has helped immensely and I am very grateful for all the assistance. I will post on progress as this part of the project progresses. But it may be some time as I am repositioning the right hand section of both loops to incorporate a double platform station where trains can wait whilst the single section is in use by the other loop. Once again many thanks for all the assistance.